Real Madrid’s chances of securing the La Liga title took a major blow following their 2-1 defeat to Real Betis on Saturday, March 1. Despite initially taking the lead through Brahim Diaz, they failed to maintain control and allowed Betis to stage a comeback, clinching all three points.
David Alaba’s performance became a key talking point as the defender struggled throughout the match, failing to make a tackle or win a duel. This led to significant backlash from both fans and analysts.
Many supporters expressed their frustration online, with some calling for Alaba’s departure. Franklin Akins tweeted, “Alaba needs to go. Ancelotti is complicating things for himself. Asensio has been solid defensively, yet didn’t start. It was such a poor performance.”
Other fans shared similar views, with Dark_sheriff44 writing, “Awful match… Modric should not start again, Alaba should never play again, Vazquez, please don’t play again, Valverde, we need you, Bellingham, I miss you.” This widespread discontent highlights mounting dissatisfaction with both the team’s performance and the choice of certain players.
Some fans took a more cautious stance, such as Belligold, who remarked, “Vini, this is getting embarrassing. Alaba’s return feels like a poisoned gift; he’s returning at such a crucial point in the season and is blocking Asensio, who’s been performing well.” This suggests that Alaba’s return might be more detrimental than beneficial, especially if it sidelines key players.
Others questioned Ancelotti’s decisions, with CarlosA commenting, “You don’t need a Harvard degree to see that starting with Lucas Vázquez and a past-his-prime Alaba is a recipe for failure. Unfortunately, the Italian doesn’t get it.”
Omwengho1 shared a similar view, stating, “Alaba’s Real Madrid career should’ve ended long ago. He no longer has that drive.”
KingOfMadrid was particularly critical of Ancelotti’s choice to bench Asensio, tweeting, “Ancelotti is ungrateful for dropping Asensio in favor of Alaba. Asensio has been our best defender whenever he plays, but he’s benched for a washed-up Alaba who hasn’t played in two years. How does Carlo justify this?”
The loss has sparked a heated debate among fans, with many questioning the team’s tactics and player selections. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how Ancelotti will address these concerns and steer Real Madrid back to form.
